4 ms·

It's pretty important to get it straight: what files did she move and why? So far it appears she did NOT do an Anthony Levandowski and steal IP. In particular

It's pretty important to get it straight: what files did she move and why? So far it appears she did NOT do an Anthony Levandowski and steal IP. In particular Google has said zero about the actual dollar value of those files, or cited any damages from the movement of the files. It appears much more likely she was talking to a lawyer, which is a perfectly legal thing to do, and probably pretty wise given Google's maximally adversarial approach to this whole mess. Yes you should always respect your employer's property. In tech, that's almost always IP stuff: code, diagrams, plans, etc. But don't let an employer defame a former employee with an intentionally "concise" story.

KhitanMaps 6y ago
> So far it appears she did NOT do an Anthony Levandowski and steal IP. From what I've seen, neither Google nor Margaret Mitchell have described the file transfer event in detail. We don't yet know the content of the thousands of documents she allegedly exfiltrated. > It appears much more likely she was talking to a lawyer, which is a perfectly legal thing to do, [...] I'm curious about this. Is it legal to copy and store _any_ documents that you deem necessary for your lawyer to see? Seems unlikely.
bitcharmer 6y ago
It doesn't matter what files she moved and why. What matters is they were internal Google documents and exfiltrating sensitive contents that you don't own is a fireable offence in any corporation. She should have known better.
jahewson 6y ago
Just so everyone knows, in CA your assertions are false. CA courts have ruled that if a company protects documents or email systems then they earn the status of a trade secret. Theft of trade secrets is a felony criminal offence in CA. Do I think the CA AG is going to charge her? Unlikely. But there’s no need to demonstrate damages here like in a civil suit. Illegally exfiltrating documents to your lawyer is also, illegal. Such documents would not be admissible in court and should be obtained through the usual lawful channels of legal discovery. In short, don’t do this. It’s theft.
- choppaface 6y ago
  Just so everybody knows, sexual coercion is a criminal offense and yet Google certainly didn’t pursue Andy Rubin for that, actually they gave him a $90m severance. https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/25/18023364/google-andy-rubin-payoff-90-million-sexual-misconduct-harassment https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/25/18023364/google-andy-rub... In short, don’t abuse coworkers sexually. It’s a crime.

KhitanMaps 6y ago

> So far it appears she did NOT do an Anthony Levandowski and steal IP. From what I've seen, neither Google nor Margaret Mitchell have described the file transfer event in detail. We don't yet know the content of the thousands of documents she allegedly exfiltrated. > It appears much more likely she was talking to a lawyer, which is a perfectly legal thing to do, [...] I'm curious about this. Is it legal to copy and store _any_ documents that you deem necessary for your lawyer to see? Seems unlikely.

bitcharmer 6y ago

It doesn't matter what files she moved and why. What matters is they were internal Google documents and exfiltrating sensitive contents that you don't own is a fireable offence in any corporation. She should have known better.

jahewson 6y ago

Just so everyone knows, in CA your assertions are false. CA courts have ruled that if a company protects documents or email systems then they earn the status of a trade secret. Theft of trade secrets is a felony criminal offence in CA. Do I think the CA AG is going to charge her? Unlikely. But there’s no need to demonstrate damages here like in a civil suit. Illegally exfiltrating documents to your lawyer is also, illegal. Such documents would not be admissible in court and should be obtained through the usual lawful channels of legal discovery. In short, don’t do this. It’s theft.

choppaface 6y ago
Just so everybody knows, sexual coercion is a criminal offense and yet Google certainly didn’t pursue Andy Rubin for that, actually they gave him a $90m severance. https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/25/18023364/google-andy-rubin-payoff-90-million-sexual-misconduct-harassment https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/25/18023364/google-andy-rub... In short, don’t abuse coworkers sexually. It’s a crime.